Posted
by
samzenpus
on Thursday March 08, 2007 @06:08PM
from the google-google-google dept.

dhinckley writes "Google Maps has added some new features including pictures of the front of the locations you're searching for. Additionally, Local Businesses can enter custom information about their companies including pictures, websites, what type of payment they accept, and even offer coupons through Google Maps."

Where are they getting these pictures of the front of locations? Is it from the Canadian company going around taking pictures of houses? I wonder how much I can make driving around taking pictures of my neighbors houses.

Google's database of businesses is very sparse. I routinely search for various product retailers in NYC, and get results showing only a dozen or so stores, when I know there are hundreds of stores matching the search terms. Outside Manhattan it's even worse.

The map interface is very useful for browsing for brick & mortar stores in convenient locations. But their DB misses so many convenient locations that I don't care if they make one out of my way more convenient. They should spend some of their $billions on a real business database. Then they'd make it back on the ads when everyone uses them as "the new Yellow Pages".

You can list on the various yellow books web sites for free, but you have to pay to get in the physical book (or get a better than basic listing on the sites)...It's all about ROI, and they know that the customers get them for 'free' (I say 'free' because they pay for them all year long, whether they like it or not).

I havn't used yellow pages in ages.Google maps is imperfect for sure, but it is better than paging through hundreds of listings in different catagories (if you can guess the right one) and then needing to call and find out if it is what you are looking for.

I use google maps, and then check websites to see if it is a viable place for what I want. It doesn't need to be a nice website, as long as there is a blurb.

Last time I used the book was for auto glass repair, but a tip from a cop when I filed the police

I used to work for the Aussie provider of yellow pages. They were very afraid of losing market share to google.In addition to making a search engine that integrated with white/yellow pages and general web they bought one of the local street directory companies for maps.

Their pitch was that they had all the directory information for homes and businesses through their print media and could provide Australia specific content all from the one web address.

I couldn't disagree more. In fact, I think that they're so good, that I have discontinued all of our Yellow Pages listings. In fact, last time I spoke with a Yellow Pages salesperson, she said that not only has she gotten the same response from many businesses, but she's not surprised because xx% of people now go online to find phone numbers, hours, and other business info before they think about using Yellow Pages. Phone books are dead. Stick a fork in 'em.

Yes, if you're one of the businesses listed in Google Maps, then of course you prefer it to the Yellow Pages. You have less competition in Google Maps, because their DB is so sparse. Of course, your interest directly conflicts with consumers. And you are one of those consumers in every other business except your own.Besides, I didn't say that the Yellow Pages are superior: they can't be searched, emailed, bookmarked, etc. But we're not talking about their UIs. We're talking about their DBs. And even with th

In my opinion, Google Maps has a much more accurate database. Partially because the yellow pages is only updated yearly (actually, even less, in certain instances), I, more often than not, find listings that are long since dead. The Yellow Pages lists everybody who has a "business" number, regardless of whether or not they actually are in business. Google Maps/Local requires a tiny but of effort on the part of the business to get listed. Even with completely non-computer related businesses, you're still

You're missing the only point I'm making. When I search a 2 mile radius of my NYC home for "video games", I expect to see at least 20 or 30 results. I don't have to schlep to midtown to the Sony Store, but Google Maps would make me. All the convenience of their details means nothing when I have to walk past stores in the next block over just to get to the subway for Google's only outlet.Meanwhile, when I see a place in the Yellow Pages, I call and ask if they have what I want. If not, I call the next one. N

Well, either Google can fix it, or the shopkeepers can just do what the rest of us have already done already... just add it manually to Google. My point is if a shop keeper can go through the headache of buying a very expensive Yellow Pages ad, there's no reason those same shop keepers can't also add their shop to Google, which takes all of 30 seconds. As people start using Google more and more, eventually, they'll all get added, unless the store owner is completely brain dead and has never heard of Googl

Yes, I've been pointing out that Google can change, and should.Most shopkeepers don't know they can get added to Google Maps. They wouldn't know about buying into the Yellow Pages, either, if the phone company didn't invest a lot of money and time having salespeople call them with solicitations for many years, including now that it's "common knowledge".

This entire thread you've acted like these two business directories are somehow magically just the way they are. My point has been that Google's maps aren't

Besides, I didn't say that the Yellow Pages are superior: they can't be searched, emailed, bookmarked, etc. But we're not talking about their UIs. We're talking about their DBs. And even with the Yellow Pages decline, their DB is still much deeper than Google Maps'.

Well, they're (minimally) bookmarkable, but they're just browsable, not searchable. Though I guess asking your assistant or calling 411 does count as a search. I'd bet they'd use Google, and then stick you with the limited selection of vendors.

Yeah, keeping all this stuff current is the real kicker. I started buyindie.net [buyindie.net] back in 2004 mostly as a hobby. It's mostly for DC but is still lacking mostly because it takes an army of volunteers or employees to keep things current because many small business owners either aren't tech saavy enough or don't see the benefits just yet.

Still, I think Google will do great with this new feature. Frankly, anything that helps keep local businesses going is a plus in my book.

I correct a series of deep errors, and that's "Redundant"? Maybe, in the sense that anyone worth thinking about would have got them right the first time. But the trollMod clearly wanted to try an anonymous supression, rather than step to the New Yorker and say something stupid directly. Because everyone knows how dangerous that kind of stupid behavior is.

I wonder how many people are going to get caught with their vehicle parked in front of the local nudie bar or XXX book store and will have to explain things to a spouse. Another issue could be how do they verify the data is from the business owner and not someone with a grudge or unscrupulous competitor. Great idea though, being able to see the front of the place could really help when looking for a building I have never been to.

This is merely because all of the photos are being pulled from Yelp where Google already gets a large degree of their reviews. As such it's less a criticism of Google than one of Yelp (which, honestly, has plenty of problems).

Not really, when your outside you really have zero privacy to speak of. I'm a crazy too about privacy, but not exactly shitting bricks over Google having a single month old (minimum usually ranging to a couple years old) static image of a location that may, or may not have a picture or me or something of mine.

I had an idea a couple years ago about starting a massive searchable database of what times companies open and close so you can quit wasting your time driving or calling when there's no one there. Finally it can be done. I wonder if that is something most businesses would find worthwhile to keep updated... it sure would come in handy.

Dude, see my posting further down, reference to gonumber.com. We're adding the ability to locate businesses using various search factors, such as "open now" or at a specific time plus other keywords etc. Here's a listing showing our real time opening hours indicator: pressgang.gonumber.com [gonumber.com].

Cool idea there, but I can't say much for the implementation. It took me a minute of just staring at the screen to try to figure out what the heck all those buttons were for. If you could slim the interface down to a search and a "time open/closed" I think you'd be much better off, and then you could gradually add more features...

This is one request I've had for awhile. I know where it is on a map, but I don't know the address. I noticed they added building outlines in parts of LA (where I live). I can't wait till I can point to a business and get directions instead of searching by a nearby intersection.

As a business owner I have been upset with Google Maps because their maps didn't correctly position my establishment. With this new feature, I immediately fixed their map location, added 10 pictures, an intro blurb and several other pieces of metadata. This can only improve my business's visibility.

The end result should be a very accurate database => Google's value rises. This database entry is very happy. All in all a win-win situation.

All in all, neato. Though the instant phone call tripped the tin-foil hat wearer in me.

If that tripped your foil, you should've been there when google labs had the dial-up voice search thing going on. You called a toll free number, spoke your search criteria, then clicked a link and voila, search results.

p.s. I didn't bother to check if they still have this feature available

But what about they fix the search-engine for regular adresses?? They seem to work in USA, but I live in Denmark, and I can only search for a few very specific cities. Even though the map plainly shows a street-name or a city, it remains unsearchable... Which means that the location can't be saved, and no route can be planned for it (and I can't find anything I didn't allready know where is!).
So - fix the damn core functionality, before going about making wierd advertisement functions!

Well, I think I found the problem... you live in Denmark. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with Denmark or the people that live there; I'm not about bashing Danes. It's just that Google is a US company that focuses on the US first and everywhere else second. You said it yourself, the problem isn't that address searches don't work... it's that they don't work outside the US.In any case, the core function works just fine. The problem is that Denmark's roads haven't been properly input to their road d

guess you're right... For the unknowing international user, it's just frustrating that you can see the damn road, but it doesn't turn up on a search.
"You're the new intern? Well, we have this map - put the names of all the roads on the map and their coordinates into this database. Have a nice time here with us in Google HQ!":-)

As per porcini.gonumber.com [gonumber.com], we have been including photos and (real time) opening hours for a while, plus coupons, price lists and/or menus. For example, no5belgravia.gonumber.com [gonumber.com]. Yes, we charge for 'listings' in our directory, but include some interesting and innovative features (many more to come) and don't re-sell data or embed any 3rd party advertising within it. Site looks boring, but is nice on a mobile device thanks to some sweet CSS and yes, we're working on a new logo! We use Google maps but hope

Meant to mention that a) We are focusing on a few areas of London, England only at this point, plus a few entries from other cities. b) The 'directory' (www.gonumber.com) is morphing into a service, so the term 'directory' may become obsolete in due course.

It's all wonderful except there is no way to set the business location if Google gets it wrong. I've been trying to get my office location showing the right place on Google for three years now. Emailing them doesn't work, registering with them doesn't help, pleading with them doesn't help. Arg!